What does it really mean to dismantle systems of oppression? In this episode of Assigned Reading, Becky is joined by writer and publicist Cher to unpack Audre Lorde’s iconic 1979 speech “The Master’s Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master’s House.” They explore tokenism, parenting under patriarchy, the trap of girlboss feminism, and how discomfort is often a necessary part of real allyship and liberation. From personal storytelling to deep analysis, this conversation is a powerful, intersectional reflection on how we show up—for ourselves and each other.

This week’s text:
✍️ “The Master’s Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master’s House” by Audre Lorde

This week’s guest: Cher Hale is a publicist, writer, and creative multi-hyphenate who explores the intersections of identity, equity, and expression. She’s known for her radical integrity, boundary-setting magic, and powerful voice.

Find Cher:
 🌐 https://www.cherhale.com
📱 https://www.instagram.com/cherhale

Discussed in this episode:

• Tokenism in feminist spaces
• Parenting without power-over dynamics
• Creating diverse friendships with intention
• Why TERFs are not feminists
• Rejecting girlboss, hyper-capitalist feminism
• Navigating rejection and community building
• The challenge of creative expression under capitalism

Resources mentioned:

• The Messy Liberation Podcast
• Erica Courdae (imperfect allyship)
• The Peanut app
• Jordan Maney’s episode on rest and asking for help

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